One of Bristol’s earliest examples of uniformly stepped hillside terracing, Park Street is home to a wide range of shops, bars, cafes, clubs and restaurants - as well as some of the city’s oldest buildings and a world-famous Banksy piece.
But to what extent has the ongoing economic situation and cost of living impacted traders at Park Street? And what about the Clean Air Zone, which literally cuts across the middle of Park Street.
We talked to nine traders to see how business is and what the impacts of the Clean Air Zone, the cost of living crisis and high energy bills have been. Here’s what we found:
We talked to nine traders to see how business is and what the impacts of the Clean Air Zone, the cost of living crisis and high energy bills have been. Here’s what we found:
![At Hobgoblin Music, Tim told us the Christmas season was a “mixed bag”: “It was quite quiet leading up to December but December got really busy as it went on so we made out alright. I think we pretty much hit our average for Christmas. I think Christmas in retail goes one of two ways: it’s either really busy in November when everyone's buying early Christmas presents or it's really busy in December when everyone's panic buying Christmas presents. And this was a panic buying year, so I think in terms of the amount of money we take is probably about the same as last year and fairly similar to the year before that. I don’t know if [the cost of living crisis has] really impacted us that much. I think we live in a weird little niche that it doesn't really affect us that much because musicians will always find money for instruments. I don’t think it really affected us much. I think maybe we turn over less of our lower to medium stock but probably more of the higher stuff.” As for the Clean Air Zone, it only starts halfway down Park Street, so it’s entirely possible for you to get into Bristol and park up in the car park at the very top of Park Street or on one of the side roads if they can find a space. I don’t think it's actually affected business as much as I was expecting it to. I think people are still coming so I don't think it’s affected foot traffic at all of course but I don’t think it's really affected people driving in much either because like you know we’re a niche interest shop, and people are going to come to us Clean Air Zone or not because we’re the only place they can come to.”](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/01/25/14/58/Tim%20from%20Hobgoblin%20Music.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
9. Hobgoblin Music
At Hobgoblin Music, Tim told us the Christmas season was a “mixed bag”: “It was quite quiet leading up to December but December got really busy as it went on so we made out alright. I think we pretty much hit our average for Christmas. I think Christmas in retail goes one of two ways: it’s either really busy in November when everyone's buying early Christmas presents or it's really busy in December when everyone's panic buying Christmas presents. And this was a panic buying year, so I think in terms of the amount of money we take is probably about the same as last year and fairly similar to the year before that. I don’t know if [the cost of living crisis has] really impacted us that much. I think we live in a weird little niche that it doesn't really affect us that much because musicians will always find money for instruments. I don’t think it really affected us much. I think maybe we turn over less of our lower to medium stock but probably more of the higher stuff.” As for the Clean Air Zone, it only starts halfway down Park Street, so it’s entirely possible for you to get into Bristol and park up in the car park at the very top of Park Street or on one of the side roads if they can find a space. I don’t think it's actually affected business as much as I was expecting it to. I think people are still coming so I don't think it’s affected foot traffic at all of course but I don’t think it's really affected people driving in much either because like you know we’re a niche interest shop, and people are going to come to us Clean Air Zone or not because we’re the only place they can come to.”